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Hanrahan set for Minors rehabilitation assignment

4/8/13: Joel Hanrahan gets Ryan Flaherty to pop out to Will Middlebrooks in foul territory to record his third save in a 3-1 Red Sox victory

By Ian Browne
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MLB.com |

BOSTON -- Closer Joel Hanrahan appeared to pass his final test on Wednesday when he threw another bullpen session to test his right hamstring.

The next time the reliever will pitch in a game should be Friday, when he begins a Minor League rehab assignment.

If Hanrahan pitches for Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday, the venue would be Buffalo. The PawSox return for a long homestand after that. The righty would probably only need two to three rehab appearances before coming back to the Red Sox.

Lefty reliever Craig Breslow, who struggled in poor weather conditions for Double-A Portland on Tuesday, will pitch for Pawtucket on Saturday.

There is no timetable for lefty Franklin Morales to pitch in a game. His Minor League rehab has been interrupted by a strained pectoral muscle. Because he already made a start for Class A Greenville, the Red Sox can stop the 30-day clock on his rehab and then restart it if need be.

Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brownie Points, and follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.